Driver convicted of murder after man run over in Accrington town centre
Muhammad Haarith will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Monday
A car driver has been convicted of murder after running over a man in Accrington town centre.
Muhammad Haarith, 23, of Exchange Street, Accrington, was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court on Friday 16th October.
The verdict came after a five-day trial.
He will return to the same court to be sentenced on Monday.
What happened
Police said Haarith was driving a VW Passat which ran over 44-year-old Matthew Weller on the evening of 22nd April.
The force said Haarith was 22 at the time and had four teenage passengers in the car, three aged 17 and one aged 18.
Police said the car was registered and insured to Haarith at his home address in Accrington.
At around 9.45pm, the Passat was parked on Blackburn Road while one of the passengers went into a shop.
Mr Weller, who police described as vulnerable, walked past heading towards Birch Street.
Police said words were exchanged between him and a back seat passenger through an open window.
Mr Weller continued walking and spoke to the occupant of another car as the Passat set off.
The force said the Passat slowed as it approached him and then stopped.
Mr Weller was seen to sit on the nearside front wing of the car while it was stationary.
Police said that moments later the Passat set off with Mr Weller still on the bonnet.
He fell to the ground and went under the car, and the front wheels went over him.
Police said he was dragged along the road and into Birch Street, where the rear wheels went over him before he came free from the underside of the car.
The Passat continued along Birch Street and left the scene without stopping.
Mr Weller's death
Police said members of the public went to Mr Weller's aid.
He was treated by paramedics and taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital.
He died from his injuries at 1.20am on 23rd April.
A Home Office postmortem showed the cause of death was multiple injuries.
Arrest
Officers found the Passat abandoned on Barden Road in Accrington, about a third of a mile from Haarith's home.
Police said Haarith handed himself in at Greenbank Police Station in Blackburn at around 10.30pm on 23rd April.
Police response
Detective Chief Inspector Steve Harry, of the Force Major Incident Team, said: "Haarith's deliberate actions led to Matthew Weller losing his life in this shocking way."
He said: "He used his car as a deadly weapon and caused Matthew's death."
He added: "My thoughts remain very much with Matthew's family as they continue to grieve for Matthew."